Pasta preparation apparatus

ABSTRACT

A device is disclosed for simultaneously applying heat to food such as pasta while applying agitation in the form of a repetitive irregular rotational motion similar to that of a chef constantly turning the contents of a pan while it is being heated. The device of the invention comprises a container mounted on an elongated beam assembly which is horizontally disposed for repetitive reciprocating movement to impart the desired rotational motion to the container holding the food while it is being heated. One end of the beam assembly is connected to a rotating arm which imparts a reciprocating movement to the beam. The beam assembly is supported at a point between its two ends to accommodate the reciprocating motion imparted by the rotating wheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a culinary apparatus and, morespecifically, to an apparatus providing a repetitive rotational movementto a container holding a food preparation such as pasta while applyingheat.

The proper, simultaneous application of heat and agitation to pasta suchas fettuccine, or other foods while coating the same with a sauce is acritical step in the preparation of the particular food dish. While theapplication process can be briefly described as exposure of a pancontaining the food ingredients to heat during agitation of the pan,this only barely indicates the interrelationship of factors which canmake the difference between a properly prepared food dish such asfettuccine alla Alfredo and an unacceptable and poorly prepared fooddish. The formulation of the sauce used with such dishes is, forexample, itself an important factor, and may incorporate a dairy productingredient such as cheese, cream, milk or melted butter which isespecially sensitive to even momentary application of localized highheat. Thus one purpose of pan agitation is to circulate the pasta andthe sauce and take advantage of heat without permitting local burningand the radical alteration of flavor by dissolution of the combustionproducts in the sauce. Another purpose of agitation is to assure thatthe pasta is circulated thoroughly and coated evenly by the sauce at arate appropriate to achievement of the coating consistency desired bythose consumers with an educated taste for pasta dishes.

In the prior art, the process of agitation for pasta preparation,coating the same with sauce and the avoidance of sauce burn and pastahardening while maintaining sauce consistency has been conducted byhand. Those who possess the physical strength, experience, coordinationand concentration necessary for tossing the pasta in the pan over anextended period of time, and the visual and taste skills necessary todetermine the on-going status of the preparation process, are consideredvery valuable food preparation specialists and are paid accordingly.Thus the end product of the process has long been considered a delicacy,and the restaurant industry has recognized that while customers will paygenerously for a correctly prepared product and continue to frequent arestaurant that serves a correctly prepared dish, it is also true thatcustomers will not return for a poorly prepared product. Accordingly, itcan be seen that it is highly desirable to provide an automatedmechanism for pan agitation which provides a complex, rotary motionsufficient to circulate pasta and sauce while applying heat to achieve afood dish comparable to that heretofore requiring the undivided, manualattention of a skilled chef.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a device for simultaneously agitatingand applying heat to a food preparation such as a pasta which is coatedby a sauce. More specifically, the present invention is directed to adevice which applies an irregular rotary motion repetitively to thecontainer or pan holding the food during heating so as to effectivelymimic the rotary, tossing motion of a skilled individual manuallyapplying agitation to a pan while the food dish is being prepared.

The device of the present invention comprises a beam assembly which isdisposed in approximately a horizontal position with at least one of itsends mounted to an arm which is rotatably mounted such that rotation ofthe arm produces a reciprocating movement by the horizontal beamassembly and a combined rotary and reciprocal movement by the pan orcontainer which is disposed away from the arm at a point on the beamassembly. In addition to the point of pivotal engagement with the arm,the beam assembly is otherwise supported to accommodate reciprocalmovement. This support can, for example, be a point of slidableengagement with a longitudinally disposed slot in the beam assembly.

Alternatively, the beam assembly is attached between two wheels, and anirregular rotary movement can be imparted to the receptacle holding thefood, by providing that the respective distances between the center ofrotation of each wheel and the point of engagement of the beam assemblywith that wheel is different for each of the two wheels. Thus, if theends of the base assembly are attached at essentially thecircumferential edge of each wheel, different size wheels can be used inorder to produce the desire irregularity of motion, or, if wheels of thesame size are used, the point of attachment can be varied so that oneend of the beam assembly is attached at a point further from the centerof rotation than the other end is attached on the other wheel. Thenecessary motive force to cause reciprocal movement by the beam assemblyis only applied to one of the wheels so that the other end of the beamassembly follows in response to the force applied through the beamassembly.

The motive force supplied to the base assembly is supplied by means ofan electric motor either directly turning one of the rotating wheels orindirectly through a system of belts, chains or gears. The speed of therotary agitation that is applied to the container of food canconveniently be controlled by a varying the rotational speed applied tothe either drive wheel by the motor through a potientometer or othermeans well known in the art.

The present invention therefore provides an efficient means forautomatically applying a repetitious, irregular rotary motion to a panor other container of food such as pasta and sauce while it is beingheated in a manner that effectively reproduces the rotary, tossingmotion heretofore achieved manually by only trained and highly skilledindividuals.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more readily apparent by reference to the following detaileddescription thereof, when ready in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the device of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 2 through 5 illustrate a preferred embodiment and best mode forcarrying out the present invention. Directing attention to thesefigures, which are to be considered collectively, the food preparationdevice 10 is supported by a generally box shaped frame 12. The frame 12is constructed with a base 14, end members 16, support posts 18 and topmembers 20. A standard D.C. motor 22 in mounted to a support structure23 secured to base 14. The motor 22 when energized by a source ofelectricity not shown drives a shaft 24 on which is mounted pulley 26.The pulley 26 is connected to and drives a larger diameter pulley 28 viaV-belt 32. Pulley 28 is fixably mounted on a rotatable shaft 34 which isjournalled in opposing bearing races which are mounted to support arms36 extending downward from the top of the frame 12. A pair ofcounterweighted arms 38 are rotatably mounted on shaft 34. Each of thecounterweighted arms 38 has one end which is connected to the respectivehorizontal beam 40 or 42 through a yoke and a pin assembly 43. Thus, therotary motion supplied from shaft 24 via the pulley assembly to shaft 34causes the counterweighted arms to rotate in a vertical plane about theaxis of shaft 34 while at the same time imparting a rotary motion to theproximal ends 41 of the beam members 40 and 42 to which the arms 38 areattached. The distal ends of the arms positioned from the beam membersare provided with counterweights 39 which counterbalance the weight ofthe beam members, cross support pieces and the food container. Each ofthe horizontal beam members 40 and 42 defines a longitudinally disposedslot 44 which slidably engages a slide rod 46 mounted to posts 18.Alternatively, a support pin or lug can be rigidly attached an uprightpost in place of slide rod 46. The rod 46 provides a support point forslidable, reciprocal movement by the two beams members 40 and 42. Ahorizontal support bar 47 connects the distal ends of the two beammembers 40 and 42 and provides a means of attachment to container 48which is adapted to be opened and closed in conventional manner notshown. The container 48 is however preferably two pieced and hinged toallow easy access and closing of the container. Disposed on the frame 12both above and below the container 48 are heating means 50 of which canbe either radiant electric heat or gas burners to supply evenly appliedheat both to the top and bottom of the container 48. The heaters shownare electric resistance heaters and can be activated by switch 49 whichis connected to a source of electric power not shown. Two switches areshown for operation of the top and bottom heaters. The heaters are wellknown in the art and can be commercially obtained.

An additional embodiment for carrying out the present invention will beappreciated by having specific reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings. Inthis embodiment, a generally horizontal beam or rod 51 engages at twopoints, 55 and 58, proximate the ends of the beam, respective verticallymounted wheels 54 and 57 of different diameter sizes having a commonplane of rotation. Motive force to cause the initial turning of thewheel 54 is provided conveniently by motor 52 through shaft 62, gear 64,a chain 63 and gear 68. Gear 68 and wheel 54 are axially mounted toshaft 56. The motor 52 is a standard off the shelf D.C. motor with areducer. Approximately mid-point on the beam 51, a receptacle or foodcontainer 59 having a cover 69 is mounted. The container 59 is adaptedto hold a food such as pasta. The cover 69 is provided with fasteningmeans such as clasps or spring mounts to hold it securely on thecontainer during the rocking motion. Wheel 57 is mounted to rotatefreely on axle 60 in response to reciprocating movement by beam 51. Thewheel 57 is pivotally attached to the beam 51 by means of a pin or lug58 which is secured to the wheel and extends from the side of the wheelto travel slidably in a slot 61 provided in the beam. Wheel 54 is alsopivotally mounted to the beam 51 with a pin 55. This constructionpermits rotational movement but not the sliding horizontal displacementfound at the point of attachment of the other end of the beam to thewheel 57. The respective distance between the axis of rotation and thepoint of attachment of the beam at 55 to wheel 54 and the axis ofrotation on wheel 57 and the point of beam attachment 58 are different,so that turning of the wheel 54 produces an irregular reciprocatingmotion in the beam 51 and a similar motion in the container in which thefood is disposed. While this irregular motion is occurring, heat isapplied from the heat source 70 to the container. The heat source 70 canbe a propane or gas burner or simple Sterno or other heat producingjellyed fuel. Any type of commercial heat producing burner apparatus canbe used. As seen in the drawing, the entire device is convenientlymounted on a pair of frame structures 65 and 66 connected by a platform67 for holding the heat source.

In the operation of the preferred embodiment, the container 48 is openedin any conventional way in which container lids and bottoms are removedor fastened together such as threaded or hinged disengagement. The pastaand the sauce are placed in the bottom of the container. While theinvention is directed towards pasta preparation, other foods can be usedin the invention which require constant agitation over a constant sourceof heat. The pasta which is preferably cooked is fettuccine althoughrigatoni and other noodles and pastas could be used. The container 48 isthen fastened together and the motor 22 is activated causing the lowerpulley 26 mounted on the motor shaft 24 to rotate imparting a drivingforce via the v belt 32 to the larger pulley 28 mounted on rotatableshaft 34 which is supported by the frame. The action of the pulley 28causes the shaft 34 to rotate and thereby rotate the counterweightedarms 38 which are fixably mounted to the shaft. The rotation of the armscauses beams 42, which are pivotally mounted at assemblies 43 to theends of the counterweight arms outside of shaft 34, to be reciprocallydriven with the support bar 47 mounted to both of the beams 42 alsotranscribing a closed path so that the container 48, which is mounted onsupport bar 47, is agitated in must the same manner as a person agitatesa pan. The pan is positioned between two radiant heaters 50 which can beselectively adjusted for constant temperature and are turned on duringthe shaking and agitating process through switch means 49 which is wellknown. The pasta in container 48 is thus heated to a desired temperaturewhile it is being agitated to coat the pasta noodles with a sauce in thedesired manner. If desired, a timer not shown can be set up to the motor22 and radiant heaters 50 so that after a prescribed length of time, theapparatus will stop its rotation and the heaters will automatically beturned off. At this time, the operator unfastens the lower portion ofthe container and empties the serving of pasta into a serving dish fordelivery to the consumer.

While generally embodiments of the present invention has been described,it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the arts that variousalternative configurations and embodiments can readily be adapted to thepresent invention and are considered to fall within the scope thereof asset forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for simultaneously agitating andapplying heat to foods; comprising a frame, elongated beam meansdisposed on said frame for rotational motion of the ends of said beammeans, a container mounted to said beam means, said container beingadapted to hold food; rotary drive means, said beam means beingconnected at a point near one of its ends to said rotary drive means,said rotary drive means being adapted to transcribe a continuous pathand impart a substantially reciprocating movement to said beam means;said container being mounted at the other end of said beam means remotefrom said rotary drive means; support means positioned on said framebetween said container and said rotary drive means, said beam meansbeing slidably and pivotally supported on said support means; and meansadjacent to said container for applying heat to said container.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said rotary drive means is a rotating arm. 3.The device of claim 2 wherein said beam means comprises a plurality ofparallel spaced members, each member defining a slot therein whichreceives said support means.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein saidsupport means is a rod.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein said supportmeans is pin means.
 6. The device of claim 2 wherein said rotating armis mounted on a shaft and further comprises counterweight means mountedto an end opposite said beam means.
 7. The device of claim 6 whereinsaid shaft is driven by motor means.
 8. A device for simultaneouslyagitating and applying heat to foodstuff which comprises a frame, anelongated beam means supported by said frame and disposed forrepetitive, generally horizontally reciprocating movement, containermeans mounted to said beam means adapted to hold food; said beam meansbeing pivotally engaged at a point near one end by rotatable arm means,said arm means when rotated causing said point of engagement totranscribe continuously a circular path in a plane of rotation tothereby impart said reciprocating movement to said beam means; saidcontainer being disposed at about the other end of said beam means, saidbeam being slidably and pivotally supported by a support member definedby said beam means to accommodate said reciprocating movement; and meansfor applying heat to said container.
 9. A device for simultaneouslyagitating and applying heat to pasta comprising a frame, a pair ofspaced, parallel elongated members disposed generally horizontally forrepetitive, reciprocating movement, pin means mounted to said frame,said members defining channel means therein which engage said pin means,a container mounted at a first end of said members adapted to hold food;rotating arm means engaged to a second end of said members, means todrive said arm means to rotate the second end of said members therebytranscribing a continuously circular path in a vertical plane ofrotation to impart reciprocating movement to said members; said membersbeing each slidably and pivotally supported by said pin means, and meansfor applying selective heat to said container.
 10. The device of claim 9in which said motive force is an electric motor.
 11. The device of claim9 in which the speed of said motive force is controllable.
 12. Thedevice of claim 9 in which said means for applying heat is variable inintensity.
 13. A device for simultaneously agitating and applying heatto food comprising a frame, elongated beam means mounted to said framefor repetitive, reciprocating movement, a container disposed at aboutthe mid-point of said beam, said container being adapted to hold food;said beam means being pivotally engaged at respective first and secondpoints of engagement near each end thereof to respective first andsecond rotary means, said first rotary mean causing said first point ofengagement to transcribe a continuously circular path in a verticalplane to thereby impart said reciprocating movement to said beam; andmeans for applying heat to said container disposed beneath the beam. 14.The device of claim 13 wherein said second point of engagement islongitudinally slidable with respect to said beam.
 15. The device ofclaim 14 wherein each of said rotary means is a wheel mounted on arotating axis.
 16. The device of claim 15 wherein one of said wheels isturned by an external motive force, operatively connected therewith. 17.The device of claim 16 wherein said motive force is an electric motor.18. The device of claim 16 in which said means for applying heat isvariable in intensity.
 19. A device for simultaneously agitating andapplying heat to a pasta and sauce which comprises a frame means, anelongated beam assembly mounted to said frame means, said elongated beamassembly being disposed for repetitive, reciprocating movement whichimparts an irregular, rotational motion to a container mounted to saidbeam; said beam being pivotally engaged at respective first and secondpoints near each of its ends to respective first and second rotatablewheel means, said wheel means each having vertical planes of rotationwhich are coplanar, such that rotation of one of said wheel meansimparts said reciprocating motion to said beam assembly, a foodcontainer mounted to said beam assembly between said first and secondpoints, and means for applying heat to said container.